Ruttler Mills PLLC

Seattle Patent Attorneys and Trademark Lawyers

New Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross

Posted Tuesday, December 6, 2016 by Jim Ruttler

The anti-patent and anti-IP policies of the last administration appear to be switftly reversing course. Whether you like Obama or not, it is undisputable that the patent system has gotten weaker under his administration. Examination has been more difficult and the PTAB rules have been stacked against patent owners making it easier to invalidate issued patents. Well, that is all about to change with the nomination of pro-business pro-intellectual property nominee Mr. Wilbur Ross for the head of the commerce department, which runs the Patent Office.

Whether you are pro-Trump or not, almost everyone in America would agree that being pro-innovation is good for America. The fact that this has not been the policy of the Patent Office is surprising, but fortunately appears to be short-lived. It should be an exciting few years for innovators and inventors.